The historic Jewish neighborhood on Murray and Forbes. Chengdu Gourmet Sichuan, Everyday Noodles, Hidden Harbor tiki and the kosher and Asian groceries fill the two avenues.
Chengdu Gourmet in Squirrel Hill serves chef Wei Zhu's Sichuan cooking in Pittsburgh. A James Beard nominee with a separate, fierier Sichuan-specialties menu.
Signature: Mapo tofu, Dan dan noodles
Order: Order off the Sichuan menu: mapo tofu, dan dan noodles and whatever is dressed in chili oil.
Tip: Ask for the Sichuan menu, not the standard American-Chinese one. Cash and card both fine; expect a wait at peak.
Everyday Noodles in Squirrel Hill serves Taiwanese soup dumplings and hand-pulled noodles in Pittsburgh. Watch the dumpling team work behind glass.
Signature: Xiao long bao, Hand-pulled noodles
Order: Xiao long bao soup dumplings and a bowl of hand-pulled noodles in broth.
Tip: Watch the dumpling pleating through the front window. Expect a wait at peak; it is worth it.
Mineo's Pizza House on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill has run a Pittsburgh-style square pizza since 1958. Tangy sauce, crispy crust and a long local loyalty.
Signature: Square cut pizza, Pepperoni pie
Order: A pepperoni pie cut in squares, the Pittsburgh-style way.
Tip: A long-running rivalry with nearby Aiello's; locals pick a side. Counter and dining room both.
Aiello's Pizza on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill runs a thin, crispy-crust pie in Pittsburgh. The other half of Murray Avenue's long-running pizza rivalry.
Signature: Thin-crust pizza, By-the-cut slices
Order: A thin-crust pie whole or by the cut, crisp at the edges.
Tip: Sits a few doors from Mineo's; locals argue which is better. Quick counter service.
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery in Squirrel Hill serves Laotian and Thai cooking in Pittsburgh. Larb, sticky rice and northern curries in a small room.
Signature: Laotian larb, Khao soi
Order: Laotian larb with sticky rice, and a bowl of khao soi.
Tip: Ask for the Laotian dishes, not just the Thai standards. Small room; reserve weekends.
Commonplace Coffee on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill is a community cafe in Pittsburgh. Locally roasted beans in a warm room for work and meeting friends.
Signature drink: Pour-over
Gaby et Jules on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill bakes French macarons and caneles in Pittsburgh. Chef David Piquard's patisserie, named for his grandfathers.
Worth the queue: Macarons
Five Points Artisan Bakeshop in Squirrel Hill bakes European breads and pastries in Pittsburgh. A family bakery proofing its loaves 20 hours.
Worth the queue: Croissants and country loaves
Allegro Hearth Bakery in Squirrel Hill bakes hearth breads and vegan goods in Pittsburgh. A neighbourhood bakery and sandwich shop since 2002.
Worth the queue: Sourdough loaves
Pigeon Bagels on Hobart Street in Squirrel Hill hand-rolls and boils its bagels in Pittsburgh. A small shop with weekend lines and a cult following.
Worth the queue: Everything bagel
Commonplace Coffee roasts in Larimer and pours across Pittsburgh, with this cafe on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill. A community-minded roaster since 2003.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Hidden Harbor on Shady Avenue in Squirrel Hill is a nationally-ranked tiki bar in Pittsburgh. Over 600 rums and house-made tropical cocktails.
Signature drink: Rum tiki cocktails
Food: Snacks
Tip: One of the country's best tiki bars. Go for the rum list and the elaborate exotic drinks.
Everyday Noodles on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill steams soup dumplings to order in Pittsburgh. Watch the dumpling team pleat xiao long bao behind the glass.
Try: Xiao long bao soup dumplings
Mineo's on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill sells cheap Pittsburgh-style square pizza since 1958. Grab a couple of slices off the counter for a quick budget.
Try: Square-cut pizza by the slice
Everyday Noodles on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill is good-value Taiwanese in Pittsburgh. A bowl of hand-pulled noodles or soup dumplings is a filling meal.
Try: Soup dumplings and hand-pulled noodles
Turkish Kebab House on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill serves cheap halal Turkish food in Pittsburgh. A doner wrap or kebab plate is a filling, low-cost meal.
Try: Doner wraps
Milky Way on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill serves cheap kosher pizza and falafel in Pittsburgh. A good-value vegetarian counter in the Jewish neighbourhood.
Try: Kosher pizza and falafel